Thomas Sidney Cooper, R.A.

Charles Andrew, of Coughton Court, Warwickshire;
His sale, Christie's, London, 22 April 1899, lot 35 (330gns to Samuel);
Phillips, London, 13 December 1988, lot 63, where bought by the present owner

Royal Academy, 1864, no.472;
Worcester Fine Art Exhibition, 1882, no.309

Kentish Gazette, 29 March 1864;
Thomas Sidney Cooper, My Life, 1891, pp.395;
The Times, 25 April 1899;
K.J. Westwood, Thomas Sidney Cooper, His Life and Work, 2011, Vol.1, p.322, ref: O.1864.2

STRUCTURE The canvas has been relined. There is a small surface puncture and a surface abrasion near the upper right edge. Some minor frame abrasions along the left and right edges and some gilt paint has rubbed off in two or three places along the lower edge. There is a thin surface scratch running diaganolly upwards from the large sheep on the furthest right in the foreground and another along the right side of the lower edge. There appear to be some faint discoloured retouchings scattered through the sky and a few tiny, isolated spots of staining; otherwise the work appears in good overall condition. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT UV light reveals retouchings along each edge and scattered retouchings across the work, mainly located in the sky. FRAME Held in a gilt plaster frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

'A tour de force of sheep painting by Cooper at the height of his powers. A large flock of sheep with their lambs, in a meadow beside a river, under a heavy sky. To the left, a farmer on horseback, beside a shepherd with his collie, looks skyward, anticipating rain. A herd of cattle on the opposite bank of the river to the right in a wooded meadow, with a view of a village and church in the distance' (The Times, 25 April 1899).

The ewe in the extreme right foreground is a faithful copy of the pencil sketch 'from nature' signed and dated 1849 (see K.J. Westwood, op. cit., ref D.1849.3).

We are grateful to Kenneth Westwood for his assistance in cataloguing this work.